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H. A. STUKES FUEL FEEDING DEVICE June 28; 1932.

Original Filed March 20, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet H. A. STUKES FUEL FEEDINGDEVICE June 28, 1932.

a m M 5 m Z s e Q. m 0 s M 2 I v 8 2 9 l 0 2 5 4 I and, dm 6 7 a .S/ r z[I 1 H M M n. .1 o I 2 m 5 I v I ah 1H q, .n W\\ d m/ Reissued June 28,1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HORACE A. STUKES, OF SAN ANTONIO,TEXAS, ASSIGNOR 'IO E. V. HARDWAY, OF HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS, AS TRUSTEEFOB H. M. DUNCAN, RAYMOND PEARSON, AND BEN H. JOHNSTON FUEL FEEDINGDEVICE Original No. 1,720,931, dated July 16, 1929, Serial No. 263,166,filed March 20, 1928. Application for reissue filed May 22, 1931. SerialNo. 540,065.

a device of the character described embody-- ing certain improvements inthat character of fuel feeding devices specially designed for use inconnection with internal combustion motors, and whereby the fuel islifted, by air pressure induced by a partial Vacuum in the device, froma supply tank, of a lower level, to the device and fed by gravity to thecarbureter of the motor.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a fuelfeeding device em bodying a main feed tank and associated with it anauxiliary vacuum tank, with a novel valve and a novel type ofcontrolling mechanism therefor, through which the air pressure in theauxiliary tank may be controlled to regulate the supply of fuel to thedevice.

A further feature of the invention resides in novel means for strainingthe liquid fuel to relieve it of foreign matter as well as novel meansfor trapping foreign matter which has a tendency to settle so that thesame may be excluded from the fluid passageway to the carbureter. v

A still further feature of the invention resides in the provision of afuel feeding device which is mounted in a novel manner, to the end thatit may be securely yet quickly and easily mounted, and as readilydeinounted; and whose parts are assembled in a novel manner and with fewconnecting parts so that the device may be quickly taken apart ortion'al view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 ofFigure 1.

Figure 4 shows a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line Hof Figure 3.

Figure 5 shows afragmentary horizontal sectional view showing the mainfeed tank and-the auxiliary vacuum tank in position, as being assembledtogether, and

Figure 6 shows a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a modified formof the device.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein like numeralsof reference designate similar parts in each of the fig-- ures thenumeral 1 designates a feed tank and the numeral 2 designates a vacuumtank which is assembled with and spaced fromthe feed tank forming a fuelfeed chamber 3. The upper end of the'tank 1 has an annular inwardlyextending rim 4, which has a plurality of correspondingly turned J-slots5, and the upper end of the vacuum tank 2 has an outwardly extendingannular rim 6 provided with the projecting tenons 7 adapted to engage insaid ll-slots, as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5. The rims 4 and 6 have themarginal notches 8 and 9 which register, when the tanks 1 and 2 arerelatively turned, to engage the tenons 7 in the slots 5, and keywaysare thus formed. There is a cover 10 for said tanks and'the keys 11 areinserted through the margin of said cover and into said keyways to locksaid tanks against relative rotation and the tank 2 and this end mayextend up through the axial bore 13 through the cover 10 and on upthrough the bearing 14 in the free end of the laterally extending arm 15of the bracket 16 and threaded onto the upper end of the tube 12 thereis a clamp nut 17 which clamps said arm securely between said nut andthe cover 10 and thus securely anchors the fuel feeding device to thesupporting bracket 16 and also holds the cover in assembled relationwith said tanks. The bracket 16 may be secured to the dash board 18 of amotor vehicle in connection with which the device is used, or to anyother suitable support. The tank 1 carries a clamp 19, on one side, andthe bracket 16 carries an arm 20 whose free end terminates in aspherical head 21 adapted to be inserted endwise into said clamp, thusforming a connection through which the device may be further anchored tosaid bracket 16. p

The bore 13 is somewhat larger, in diameter, than the diameter of thetube 12 and is extended up into the arm 15 and said arm has outlet flapvalve 25 through which the liquid fuel is delivered from the vacuum tank2 into.

the chamber '3. v

The bottom of the tank 1 has a drain port 26 for cleansing purposes andnormally closed by a suitable plug. The bottom of the tank 1 also has anupstanding nipple 27 which has a channel 28 therethrough and the lowerend of this nipple is adapted to be connected to the feed pipe leadingto the carbureter. The nipple 27 stands up in the chamber 3 and itsinlet end is enclosed by a cupshaped foraminated strainer 29 which isanchored to-said" nipple and whose upper end is closed by the float 30fitted loosely therein.

Upstanding from the float 30 is a gauge rod 31 which may extend upthrough the tube 12 and nut 17 and whose upper end is visible and thusserves to indicate the level of the fluid in the chamber 3.

In the vacuum tank 2 and vertically movable on the tube 12 as a. guidethere is a float 32 formed hollow and of light material so as to bebuoyant. The vacuum tank is connected to any sourceof suction such asthe intake manifold of the motor through the usual suction passageway33, of the cover 10, and the inner end of the passageway is formed intoan enlarged flared valve seat 34 with which the correspondingly shapedvalve 35 cooperates to open and close the passageway 33. The vacuum tankis also connected with the outer air through a passageway 36 in thecover 10 and whose inner end is formed with a tapered valve seat 37 withwhich the valve 38 cooperates. The valves 35, 38 are connected by thestem 39 which works through a bearing 40 between said valve seats. ThereIs an air duct axially through the valve 35 whose upper end is turnedlaterally through the stem 39 andwhose lower end communicates with theinterior of the tank 2. When the float 32 rises to a predeterminedheight the valves are lifted and the valve 35 seats in the seat 34 andcloses the suction passageway 33 and the upper end of the duct 41 iscarried above the seat 37 and the interior of the tank 2 is thusconnected with the outer air to permit the fluid to drain by gravityfrom the {)ank 2, through the valve 29, into the cham- At one side ofthe vacuum tank there depends from the cover 10 an anchor bar 42 andpivoted to this bar are the inwardly converging upper and lower arms 43,44 whose free ends are connected by the side links 45, and the arm 44 isextended and formed into a yoke 46 the free ends of whose arms arepivotally connected to the respective upstanding lugs 47, 47 carried bythe float 32. Located midway between the ends of the links are theoutwardly extending anchor pins 48, 48 forming anchors to which the pullsprings 49, 49 are connected, at one end. On the opposite side of thetube 12 from the links 45 there is an anchor 50 depending from the coverplate 10 and a valve actuating lever 51 has itsv inner end connectedthereto. The other. end of this lever has the lateral studs 52, 52towhich the other ends of the corresponding springs 49 are attached. Thevalve 35 'has a depending stem 53, which works loosely through a bearing54 in the lever 51 and its lower end has an enlarged head 55 to preventits detachment from said lever. This valve assembly is connected to saidlever 51 at a point inwardly from the free end of said lever,'that is ata point between the lever fulcrum and the lateral studs 52 so as to givea maximum amount of leverage to operate the VHlXG assembly. Thisarrangement also is effective to permit the pull: springs 49 to act withequal efiiciency on the valve assembly when it is in either of its twopositions. I

In the form shown in Figure 6 the float 32 is eccentric with respect tothe tank 2 and has a vertical bearing on the tube 12. This float 32' hasa single central upstanding lug 47 to the upper end of which the link45' is pivoted. The arms 43, 44 are pivoted at their outer ends to thebar 42 and they diverge and their other ends are pivoted to therespective upper and lower ends of the link 45.

This link has the oppositely extended pins;v

48, 48, forming anchors to which the adjacent ends' of the springs 49are attached.

In operation when the supply of fuel in the vacuum tank is low the float32, or 32, therein will descend opening the valve 35' and seating thevalve 38 to close the duct 41. The suction induced by the motor willthen create a partial vacuum in the tank 2 and the atmospheric pressureon the fuel in the main supply tank will force the fuel into said vacuum tank, through the passageways provided. As the vacuum tank fills thefloat therein will be lifted until the springs 49 pass centers and thesesprings will then operate to quickly close the valve 35 and open thevalve 38 to connect the vacuum tank with the free atmosphere. The fuelwill now flow by gravity through the valve 25 into the chamher 3 andpass on to the carbureter by gravity, as needed, being strained throughthe strainer 29, and the foreign matter falling down about the nipple 27to be drained out.

As the fuel lowers in the vacuum tank the float therein will descenduntil the springs 49 again pass centers and the valve 35 will be quicklyopened and the valve 38 closed and suction through the passageway 33resumed. It is to be noted that the points of attachment of the springs49 to the pins 48', 48 will move substantially vertically rather than inarcuate paths so that the tension on said springs, during the movementsof the float in the vacuum tank, will be substantially uniform andconsequently the resistance of said float to the rising fluid will alsobe substantially uniform thus conducting to a more precise and uniformoperation of the valves.

In the form of valve actuating mechanism shown in Figure 6 since thefloat 32' is connected directly to the link 45 it will require lessmovement of said float to trip the valves than is the case with theconstruction shown in Figure 1 for actuating said valves, the valveactuating mechanism shown in Figure 6 thus providing a very sensitivevalve control.

While the vacuum tank 2 is filling air must be admitted into the chamber3 in order that the fluid in said chamber may be supplied uniformly tothe carbureter. For the purpose the gauge rod is fitted loosely throughthe nut 17 and air may be supplied to said chamber for the purposeindicated through said nut 17 and tube 12. There is, also, an

- through which the air may escape from said chamber as the fuel risestherein when it is delivered thereto from the vacuum tank, 3.

Special attention is called to the fact that the fuel feeding devicedescribed herein may be assembled, and maintained in assembled relationwithout the use of screws, or bolts, and is particularly characterizedby few parts which. may be easily and quickly assembled or dismembered,and whose parts are held in assembled relation by the same meansprovided for anchoring the device to its support.

While I have shown what I now consider the preferred forms of theinvention, it is obvious that mechanical changes may be made therein andequivalents substituted for the parts shown and I hereby reserve theright to make such changes and substitutions as may be found desirableor practical and such as may be comprehended within the scope of theappended claims.

What I claim is 1. A fuel feeding device including an outer tank, aninner tank within and spaced from the outer tank forming a fuel chamberbetween them provided with an outlet, a common cover for said tankshaving air passageways which communicate with the inner tank, a commonvalve mechanism through which said passageways may be opened and closed,a float in the inner tank, said valve mechanism including a yieldablemember and means connecting the float to said yieldable member throughwhich the valve mechanism may be actuated as the float moves up anddown, said connecting means being characterized by the provision of ananchor to which the yieldable member is attached and a device connectedto the anchor and effective to limit said anchor to movement in astraight line vertically.

2. A fuel feeding device including an outer tank, an inner tank withinand spaced from the outer tank forming a fuel chamber between them, saidinner tank having a valve controlled outlet into said chamber and saidchamber having an outlet, a cover for said tanks, said cover having airpassageways which communicate with the inner tank, valve means forcontrolling said passageways, mechanism for actuating said valve meanswhich includes a yieldable member connected to said valve means and amovable anchor connected to said yieldable member, a float in the innertank and means connected to said float through which said anchor may bemoved up and down in substantially a straight line as said float moves,to effect themovement of said yieldable member and the consequentactuation of said valve means.

3. In a fuel feeding device an outer tank, an inner tank within andspaced from the outer tank, a common cover for said tank,

means for detachably securing the upper ends of said tanks together,means carried by the cover for locking said tanks against separation, asupport for said device, a common means attached to the inner tankthrough which said cover may be secured in assembled relation with saidtanks and the entire assembly anchored to said support.

4. In a'fuel feeding device an outer tank, an inner tank within andspaced from the outer tank, a common cover for said tanks, means fordetachably securing the upper ends of said tanks together, means carriedby the cover for locking said tanks against separa tion, a support forsaid device, means attached to the inner tank through which said covermay be secured in assembled relation with said tanks and the entireassembly anchored to said support, said support and cover having aninlet channel leading into the inner tank.

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5. In a fuel feeding device an outer tank, an inner tank within andspaced from the Outer tank, a support, a common cover for said tanksclamped between the'support and the upper-ends of the tanks, meansattached to the inner tank and to said support and securing said coverin assembled relation with said tanks and anchoring said assembly tosaid support.

6. In a fuel feeding device an outer tank having an internal, annularflange at its upper end, an inner tank in said outer tank having anexternal annular flange at its upper end, said flanges being provided,one with J-slo'ts and the other with tenons adapted to interlock in saidslots, a support, and a common cover for said tanks clamped between saidsupport and tanks.

7. In a fuel feeding device an outer tank having an internal, annularflange at its upper end, an inner tank in said outer tank having anexternal annular flange at its noper end, said flanges being provided,one with J-slots and the other with tenons adapted to interlock in saidslots, and a common cover for said tanks, a support for the tanks, saidsupport and cover having a fuel inlet channel. into the inner tank, andalso having an air inlet and an air outlet communicating with theinterior of said inner tank, valve means controlling said air inlet andoutlet, a float in the inner tank and operative connections between saidfloat and valve means. i

8. In a fuel feed device an outer tank, an inner tank within and spacedfrom said outer tank forming a chamber between them, a

cover on said tanks, said chamber having an outlet, a screen surroundingthe inner end of said outlet, a float within said screen, a gauge rodattached to said float and whose upper end extends through and abovesaid cover.

9; In a fuel feed device an outer tank, an inner tank within and spacedfrom said outer tank forming a chamber between them, a

cover on said tanks, said chamber having an outlet, a screen surroundingthe inner end of said outlet, a float within said screen, a gauge rodattached to said float and whose upper end extends through and abovesaid cover, said inner tank having an inlet leading into the same andalso having an outlet leading into said chamber and means forcontrolling the flow of fluid into and out of said inner tank.

10. In a fuel feeding device having an outer tank, an inner tank, therebeing air passageways which communicate with the inner tank; valve meansfor controlling said passageways, a lever connected to said valve meansand pivoted at one end, a yieldable member connected, at one end, to theother end of said lever, a vertically movable float in the inner tank, avertically movable anchor to which said float and other end of saidyieldable member are connected and means confining said anchor to asubstantially straight line movement to maintaina substantially uniformtension on said yieldiair inlet passageway and a suction air paS-sageway, said passageways communicating with the interior of said vacuumtank; valve means for controlling said passageways, a lever connected tosaid valve means and ful crumed at one end, a yieldable memberconnected, at one end, to the other end of said lever, a. verticallymovable anchor to'which the other end of said yieldable member isconnected, means for confining said anchor to a substantially straightline movement to maintain a substantially uniform tension on saidyieldable member, and means for auto matically controlling the movementof said anchor according to' the amount of liquid in said vacuum tank.

12. In a fuel feeding device, having a feed tank, a vacuum tank arrangedto deliver liquid into said feed tank'and provided with an air inletpassageway and a suction air, passageway, said passageways communlcating with the interior of said vacuum tank; a lever fulcrumed at one endin saidvacuum tank, a yieldable member connected, at one end, to theother end of said lever, a vertically movable anchor to which the otherend of said yieldable member is connected, means for confining Saidanchor to a substantially straight line" movement to maintain a sub;stantially' uniform tension on said yieldable member, valve means forcontrolling said passageways and connected to said lever intermediatethe ends thereof and means for automatically controlling the movement ofsaid anchor according to the amount of liquid in said vacuum tank.

- 13. In a fuel feeding'device having afeed tank, a vacuum tank arrangedto deliver liquid into said feed tank and provided with an air inletpassageway and a suction passageway; a lever fulcrumed at one end in thevacuum tank, a yieldable member connected at one end to the other end ofsaid cording to the amount of liquid in said We uum tank, a single valvemeans for control ling said passageways and connected to said leverinwardly from the free end thereof whereby the leverage, available foropening and closing the valve means, will be accentuated.

14. In a fuel feeding device havingv a feed tank, a vacuum tank arrangedto deliver liquid into said feed tank and provided with an air inletpassageway and a suction passage way, said passageways communicatingwith the interior of said vacuum tank; a common valve means arranged toopen outwardly to close one of said passageways and to open inwardly toclose the other of said passageways and means for automaticallycontrolling the movement of said valve means according to the amount ofliquid in said vacuum tank, said valve controlling means in-- cluding ayieldable valve actuating member and an anchor movable in anapproximately straight line direction and to which one end of saidactuating member is attached, said actuating member being arranged toexert a substantially uniform pressure against either of said valveswhen in either position.

15. In a fuel feeding device a feed tank, a vacuum tank arranged todeliver liquid into said feed tank, an outlet leading from said feedtank, a screen surrounding the inner end of said outlet, a float withinsaid screen, a gauge rod attached to said float and whose upper end isexposed outside of said device.

16. In a fuel feeding device, a feed tank, a vacuum tank, associatedtherewith and arranged to deliver liquid into said feed tank, said feedtank having an outlet, a screen surrounding the inner of said outlet, afloat within said screen, an upstanding gauge rod attached to the floatand whose upper end is exposed, said vacuum tank having an inlet intothe same and also having an outlet into said feed tank and means forcontrolling the flow of fluid into and out of said vacuum tank.

17 In a fuel feeding device a vacuum tank for receiving liquid fuel andhaving an air inlet passageway and an air outlet passageway, a float insaid tank, a valve member movable into one position to close the inletpassageway and open the outlet passageway and movable into anotherposition to open the inlet passageway and close the outlet passageway,and means including a pivoted lever connected to the valve member, aswinging anchor connected to the float and a pull spring connecting thefree end of said lever and the anchor for automatically controlling themovement of said valve member according to the amount of liquid in saidtank.

18. In a fuel feeding device a vacuum tank for receiving liquid fuel andhaving an air inlet passageway and an air outlet passageway, a valvemember movable into one position to close the inlet passageway and openthe outlet passageway and movable into another position to open theinlet passageway and close the outlet passageway, and means forautomatically controlling the movement of said valve member according tothe amount of liquid in said tank, said controlling means including alever fulcrumed at one end, a yieldable member attached, at one end, tothe other end of said lever, a float operatively connected with theother end of said yieldable member, said valve member being connected tosaid lever at a point intermediate said ends of said lever.

19. In a fuel feeding device a vacuum tank for receiving liquid fuel andhaving an air inlet passageway and a suction passageway, valve means forcontrolling said passageways, a lever connected to said valve means andfulcrumed, at one end, a yieldable member connected at one end to theother end of said lever, a vertical movable anchor to which the otherend of said yieldable member is connected, means for confining saidanchor to a substantially straight line movement to maintain asubstantially uniform tension on said yieldable member and means forautomatically controlling the movement of said anchor accordinv to theamount of liquid in said vacuum ta In testimony whereof witness mysignature, this 7th day of May, A. D. 1931.

HORACE A. STUKES

